Singapore and Vietnam Deepen Ties Through Inaugural Strategic Dialogue

Singapore and Vietnam have agreed to expand technology cooperation and deepen leadership exchanges during the first Singapore-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue held on August 25 at the Conrad Singapore Marina Bay. The two nations signed an agreement for a study visit and executive education programme for senior Communist Party of Vietnam officials from 2027 to 2029, and issued a joint statement on a technology connectivity strategy. The dialogue was established under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is Singapore's first such pact with an ASEAN member state.

Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing and Permanent Member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat Tran Cam Tu co-chaired the event. Mr. Chan stated that the quality and capability of government will increasingly distinguish successful nations as the rules-based international order weakens and geopolitical competition rises. He noted that the boundaries between economic policy, technology policy, and national security are blurring, which affects small, trade-dependent economies. Mr. Chan also detailed Singapore's goal to develop pi-shaped leaders who possess both deep expertise in specific sectors and a broad understanding of cross-sector challenges.

Mr. Tu remarked that the dialogue reflects a deep level of political trust and serves as a model for mutually beneficial cooperation in the region. He expressed Vietnam's interest in learning from Singapore's experience in building modern administration, national governance, and leadership succession. The event was attended by other high-ranking officials, including Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.